the most beautiful military victory: Finland beats everybody

[selinker]

What: Finland stands up to the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and Nazi Germany in World War II, and comes out battered but still standing. Below is the precarious situation at one part of the war, in 1941. The Germans are in grey and black, the Russians are in red, and the Finns are in blue.

Comments

[selinker]

Before anyone comments, I do realize I just endorsed the actions of an ally of Nazi Germany. World War II wasn't pretty. In hindsight it looks like a clear delineation of Good vs. Evil, the last clean-conscience war. It wasn't. As a Jew and someone who spent a lot of time covering and documenting the survivors of the Holocaust, I'm clear where I stand. This is still the Most Beautiful Military Victory.

[jedusor]

FYI, looks like you've got a broken tag after "Why."

[selinker]

Fixed. Thanks.

[princeofcairo]

Sorry; I love the Finns, but a) they lost to Stalin twice, and b) the most beautiful military victory is the Battle of Trenton. Under George Washington's personal command, 2,400 men surprise the Hessians on the morning after Christmas, routing them with bayonet, sabre, and cannonfire only. Together with the Battle of Princeton (Trenton's cute friend), Trenton puts the British on the strategic defensive and leaves New Jersey in play.

The result? George Washington survives, the Continental Army survives, the Continental Congress survives, America survives (with consequences including President Truman's guarantee of Finnish independence). Beautiful.

If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe Frederick the Great, who said: "The achievements of Washington and his little band of Compatriots between the 25th of December 1776 and the 4th of January 1777 in a space of 10 days, were the most brilliant of any recorded in the history of military achievements."

And if you don't believe him, perhaps you'll believe America's greatest living

[selinker]

I considered the Battle of Trenton, but I'll take Joshua Chamberlain swinging his left flank like a fence door any ol' day.

Your definition of "lost to Stalin" doesn't match mine. Poland lost to Stalin. Hungary lost to Stalin. Finland outlived the Soviet Union. That's winning in my book.

[princeofcairo]

No knock on Maine's Greatest Son, but come on -- George Washington crossing the Delaware, James Monroe charging the enemy guns. Alexander Hamilton ordering the enfilading cannon fire sweeping the streets with grapeshot. And all with fewer than 30 people killed on both sides. That's just a beautiful damn victory.

My definition of lost is more capacious than yours, apparently: "Lost" doesn't necessarily mean "TKO." But it can include "lost 11% of your territory and 40% of your economic assets."

[selinker]

Sometimes, you have to want something enough to give up a lot.

Per Trenton, like I said, I was very close to picking it. The sinking of the Shinano, for sheer U.S. ambush value, narrowly edged it out too. But Trenton does win for Most Beautiful U.S. Ambush Mentioned in a Schoolhouse Rock Song.

[princeofcairo]

And another thing: Per Thermopylae, since the Spartans (there's that word again) lost, shouldn't the palm go to the victory at Salamis instead: Athenian democracy triumphant? And Cannae is indeed a sheerly beautiful double envelopment, but if I'm picking double envelopments, I'll pick the Battle of Cowpens, where the second-best American general beats the war criminal "Bloody Ban" Tarleton with militia.

[selinker]

Ooh, I forgot about that one. Some fine bit of command there by Morgan. I love the part about the Americans reloading their muskets while the British had their backs turned.

The Spartans definitely lost all their men at Thermopylae, but they also won. I grant that victory is in the eye of the beholder. (Not that those particular Spartans were around to behold it.)

[rubrick]

What? No Battle of Pelennor fields? Rohan sneaking through Druadan Forest and arriving in the nick of time? Aragorn sailing up the Anduin in the enemy's own ships? You can't make this stuff up!

Oh, wait.

[selinker]

Ooooh... most beautiful fictional military victory. Let me see. My knee-jerk thought is to put the explosion of the Death Star at #1. But maybe not. I will think about this. Maybe that'll be a post in itself.

[rubrick]

A hint if you do tackle this one: Don't forget the rabbits.

[rubrick]

Moreso if you ever do Most Beautiful Fictional Escape.